Slowly, Slowly: Conserving Gorillas in a Warzone

We will soon be publishing, Slowly, Slowly: Conserving Gorillas in a Warzone the life story of John Kahekwa, one of the world’s leading conservationists. The book shares John's struggle to protect gorillas in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) amid widespread poverty and the turmoil of war. From growing up in a small village and walking barefoot to school to starting work with the gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega National Park and learning their behaviours, habituating them to be comfortable in the presence of people, and then the incredible suffering they endured in what has been called ‘Africa’s World War.' 

At its core, this a tale of exceptional devotion to a cause, a refusal to accept defeat and a determination to continue working, no matter the emotional toll or against seemingly impossible odds. From humble beginnings, we see John’s progression to the world stage, shaking hands with British Royalty while continuing to devote himself to the people, forests and gorillas of his homeland in the DRC. While some of the events described are harrowing, the overall message of the book is one of hope and inspiration; that with steely dedication and unwavering hard work, there is a bright future for the gorillas and the people of Congo. In that way, the book shines a positive light on a country famously described as the ‘Heart of Darkness’.

The Pole Pole Foundation (POPOF) is multi-award-winning grassroots, community-led conservation organisation working to protect the critically endangered Eastern Lowland, or Grauer’s, Gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Pole Pole means ‘slowly’ in Swahili, reflecting the organisation’s ethos that conservation work needs to be carried out over the long-term, providing enduring support to help communities protect the forest and the gorillas that inhabit it. 

In the biography, John tells of the damage that conflict and poverty has caused to the critically endangered Grauer's Gorillas and the threats they still face to this day, as well as the importance of the habituation process to successful gorilla conservation, generating vital revenues to protect the gorillas and replicate the success seen in neighbouring Rwanda and Uganda. 

John says,